The mobile phone network O2 has said that by 2015 it will no longer include chargers with its phones.
The Charger out of the Box initiative is being billed as a way of cutting down on environmental waste created by supplying surplus chargers. "Our estimates show that there are more than 100 million unused chargers lying in UK homes and offices. That's a lot of chargers and a lot of waste," explained a press release on the O2 site. "With an estimated 30 million new phones purchased each year in the UK -- the problem is growing."
Instead of bundling a fresh charger with each new mobile, the phone company will offer a micro USB to USB cable to take advantage of the move towards standardised connectors (with the exception of Apple's proprietary jack).
The scheme follows a successful pilot in 2012 involving the HTC One X+ handset -- the company reported that 82 percent of buyers decided to forego the charger. "The results of the trial demonstrate a clear willingness among consumers to consider and respond to the environmental argument for taking a phone charger-free," said Ronan Dunne, CEO of O2 as quoted in the Telegraph. "I now hope that as a result of this study the rest of the industry will now consider joining us in our campaign to take chargers out of the box for good."
Obviously wear and tear still occur on the chargers and users might also need spares, so the company will continue to offer the devices to customers at a discounted rate.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
